A Bulk Update

We've been busy. As most families are. I have a gazillion posts I'd love to post to record a story along with the picture. Many pictures. But I simply don't have the time. Still. So in point form with pics... Our life for the past few weeks...

I got picked up for not wearing a seat belt. I was running late for work, jumped in the car and started driving up the street while trying to pull the seat belt on. Except it wasn't working. I managed to score a yellow sticker. So why wouldn't my seat belt work? Because it was STUCK IN THE DOOR! No end to the drama...

We take our 4WD out regularly which means that tyres go down and up often. Isaiah (6) helps me pump them up :) He enjoys it. Being a tyre fitters son and all.

Michael was clever enough to hurt his neck. Actually he didn't. He hurt his back at work lifting a tyre. Ended up having almost a week off work and going to the Chiropractor. The chiropractor cracked his neck and it ended up being so super duper sore he asked for a neck brace. He got prayer and went to work the next day. What helped this? Our sister-in-law Vicki massaged it I think 3 times and it was all good.

Isaiah (6) used his initiative and inspiration and made himself a torch using a couple of batteries, wires and a light bulb. I love having things like this available for him when he's ready to suss these things out. I wish I knew a bit about electrics to give him a better chance at learning how things work.

We've been taking this Daisy dog (& Pansy - not pictured) for runs. Runs along the beach and dirt tracks where we drive and they run. I don't personally like dogs that much anymore so its a HUGE thing for me to let this one ride up front alongside me! ((I hate it when you turn your head and they are right in your face panting))

Examining a dead frog while collecting water. The children find all sorts of things to learn and talk about getting all excited about the things that they see and having to take a photograph of it. Bloggers kids ;)

Okay, so we were teasing the Papa. He was waiting for a parcel to arrive so when it did we took a pic and sent it to him. It was his replaced phone.

Children have been using their train set to create new and different masterpieces. Their designs get more and more intricate as time goes on.

Hubby went Vegetarian again. So I bought tons of fruit & vegetables. I think that was $200 worth! This kind of shopping can happen in 15-20 minutes WITH four kids AND the man carries it to the car and stacks it all up inside. For me, its a faster grocery shop with only a few things from woolies. Easy as!

These two fight alot. And love alot. They snuggle up and smile at me because they are acting all cute. And saying we finished a job. We all start laughing after a little bit.

Because I love my children, and sometimes want to spoil them, the children and I went down town and bought a remote control helicopter. The children asked for one and had been wanting one for nearly a year. See the pink light? Thats the helicopter. They enjoy watching Papa fly it around the room but look out for it because it hurts when it falls on you!

We had another rent inspection so collected the Carpet Steam Cleaner from woolies. Isaiah loves this machine and uses it. Giant thanks to Vicki who went and collected and went back for shampoo because we were nearly out. The mud that come out! It was last down I think 4-5months back :/

This baby laid down eating and fell asleep WHILE that vacuum was going. If you dont know that thing is LOUD!!! When she woke up she went straight back into eating again. It took me a bit to realise she wasn't well because she just lay there for 3-4hours. When I got her off the chair she climbed back up and laid down.

She doesn't look that happy either does she :s I don't know what was wrong but she perked up again before long and was back to her normal wriggly self.

Weather Chasing. The children have personal interests in the weather. What makes it rain, what happens in a storm, etc. So we go park near the shoreline and watch as the storm rolls in, as the rain falls down, as the wind blows and see what happens to the ocean, the animals, the sky.

Lovely long locks hey? On a boy? Hmmm... This one had dreadlocks forming naturally (not brushing hair). His papa had taught him about the Nazarites and how they didn't cut their hair or brush it. His Papa also has dreadlocks and so he chose to get dreadlocks himself. Which I didn't have a problem with (on the basis he was life-learning). Until he got nits.

I usually deal with nits with regular shampoo and a nit comb. Except you cannot brush dreadlocks with a nit comb. So I was attacking it as best I could, even with poison stuff, until the day I saw the nit run UP the lock!!! With gently talking and explaining to Isaiah what needed to happen he changed his mind and was happy to have the locks brushed out. So we did. And put more poison in. It took awhile and a few days but it all got done.

Except these two. He wanted to keep a lock so I cut these two out for him. He was proud of them and looked after them well. He was happy to get his hair brushed and even decided upon getting himself a hair cut. I was relieved in the way we lost the dreads being a peaceful non-forced process that all parties (except maybe Michael??) were very happy with.

Amalia (4) receives some correction from her daddy. She listened intently to what her daddy had to say.

Michael painted our yucky wheels and put new ones. Proud of his handiwork. They go well too!

I tested out my first ever upside down braid. I was pretty impressed with it, easy, but different! I love the piggy tail look with the the lackies at the base of the head.

A closer look to the upside braid.

This is Isaiah's hair cut straight after. It is pretty short isn't it! Compared to what it was before. All dead nits and lice are completely GONE so no having to nit comb them out! :)

This baby loves to climb into bed with me, pull the covers and and stay put. For 3 seconds before wriggling again.

Miss Amalia (4) chose to go to church with me (A different one to our usual) while the rest of the family went to the beach and kayak'd. Afterward we had lunch at subway and she chose to eat In-Store. I think it must have been a special time for the special little princess.

This is a new game we bought. Its called little explorers and is for ages 3+. The dice is colour coded not numbers and the children are establishing the different places in the world. The constant looking at the map and choosing what places to go to is helping to stabilise some of the things they already know. They can point out Australia, Antartica & China easily. They are also recognising country flags. :)

Miss Avigail (18 months) seems to sneak off into the girls bedroom and playing with this tea set. Unbeknownst to me she was collecting water and filling the tea cups up. She's also been knicking off with textas/pencils and drawing and paper!! Another artist?

My New Laptop arrived. I havn't had a proper laptop for quite awhile now. Or a proper computer for that matter. The thing we use now I don't use as a computer but more a DVD watching thing. I barely use it but thats ok. Im busy doing other things.

We bought a Dyson!!!!! Seemingly every vacuum we have had doesn't do a very good job. I vacuum often/daily and it doesn't seem to do much at all. I know it does because of the dirt and dust in the vacuum barrel. Well, this one here filled to a max level just doing near our front door!!! (Hubby did it while I was at work) two days later I did all the carpet rooms and got another full barrel, then a few hours later got a 1/4barrel. I dont know where all this sand and dirt and dust is coming from but its coming from somewhere!! I think I shall be using this thing daily for awhile!

This bumble bee stays out of the way while the vacuum cleaner is on.

Master 6 completed yet another term of swimming lessons. He's done 4 lots of swimming lessons this year and is now in level 3/4. As in his teacher said enrol him in level 3-4 because he's almost mastered his freestyle but not quite. Well he did master it, then forgot to breathe. I'll enrol him again for term 4 then we'll jump into Christmas School Holiday Swimming lessons.

Miss Avigail (18 months) somehow grew up enough to start dressing herself. I think she needs a bit of help still but she seems to disagree. She enjoys playing dress ups.


And thats the end of this for now :)
We've done so much more than just this. I know because we live a very full life. Rich in Beauty.